30% of travelers plan to use virtual cards this summer, which represents an increase of 9.1 percentage points compared to last year, according to data from the "Holafly 2026 Summer Travel & eSIM Report," which points to the eSIM as the connectivity solution with the fastest growth rate for the summer campaign.
This advance goes hand in hand with a greater intention to travel in general (82% compared to 73% from the previous year) and, specifically, with a clearer preference for international destinations, chosen by 46.4% of the participants in the study.
In trips exclusively abroad, the eSIM has become the favorite option with a 38.7% share, surpassing traditional roaming (32.6%) for the first time. In contrast, local physical SIM cards drop to 22.4% and exclusive dependence on Wi-Fi networks is limited to 12.3%.
Factors such as price, ease of use, flexibility, and the possibility of immediate activation have driven this change in behavior, especially among those traveling for work reasons, a segment in which the eSIM is already the predominant alternative (31.4%).
The report also highlights a marked generational gap in the adoption of this technology. Among travelers aged 25 to 34, 46.5% plan to use an eSIM, a percentage that stands at 42.7% in the 18 to 24 age group.
From the age of 35, roaming returns to the forefront (29.2%), a trend that is reinforced among those over 55 (40.5%), mainly due to usage habits, despite more than 90% of users acknowledging having experienced issues with the coverage of their usual operator during their travels.
Regulations also clearly influence the choice of service according to the geographical area. In trips within Europe, roaming maintains its dominant position with a 40.9% preference, supported by the "Roam Like at Home" regulatory framework, while the eSIM reaches 21.9%.
Business travelers bet on the eSIM
The "Holafly 2026 Summer Travel & eSIM Report" also notes significant differences between business travelers and leisure travelers. Among those planning professional trips this summer, the combination of security, clarity in billing, and immediate activation aligns with their demands and explains why the eSIM is the most chosen option, with 31.4%, ahead of the local SIM, with 26.4%, and roaming, with 25.9%.
The distribution changes in the case of leisure trips: roaming remains the most used alternative with 30%, followed by eSIM with 26.3% and local SIM with 25.2%.
Vacation travelers continue to lean towards roaming, especially in countries where operator rates make it the most convenient option. This is the case in Europe, where roaming prevails with 40.9%, almost entirely driven by the European regulation "Roam Like at Home," while the use of eSIM stands at 21.9%.